ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for China on Saturday for a nearly week-long visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Council Summit in Tianjin and hold high-level meetings with Chinese leadership.
The SCO summit, scheduled for August 31 – September 1 in the northern port city of Tianjin, will bring together over 20 heads of state and government, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in what is being seen as a significant show of Global South solidarity.
In a message on X (formerly Twitter) before his departure, PM Shehbaz described the trip as “historic” and said he looked forward to meeting President Xi and other world leaders. “Our aim is to enhance regional cooperation, strengthen multilateralism, and advance shared goals for peace and prosperity,” he wrote.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the prime minister will meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to discuss political, economic, and security cooperation between Pakistan and China. The agenda includes the formal launch of CPEC Phase-II, which will prioritize industrial cooperation, technology transfer, and agricultural modernization after years of delay.
The visit will also feature the prime minister’s participation in a military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Additionally, Shehbaz will address a Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference and meet leading Chinese business executives to explore new opportunities in trade, infrastructure, and investment.
This trip carries special significance as it is Shehbaz Sharif’s first visit to China since the Pakistan-India conflict in May, during which Pakistan claimed to have downed six Indian fighter jets, including French-built Rafales, with Chinese-supplied air defense systems. Analysts say the episode showcased the effectiveness of Chinese military technology and has boosted Beijing’s defense profile globally.
Diplomatic observers note that the visit comes at a time of major geopolitical shifts — Pakistan’s relations with the United States have seen renewed warmth, India’s ties with Washington have cooled, and New Delhi is seeking to ease tensions with Beijing following the 2020 border clashes. Modi’s planned appearance at the SCO summit will be his first visit to China in over seven years.
Officials in Islamabad stress that Pakistan’s improved relations with Washington will not affect its “rock-solid” strategic partnership with Beijing, which remains central to Pakistan’s foreign policy.
